In pictures: The great Eusebio in Scotland

ONE of football's greatest stars passed away this morning. Our picture gallery looks back on Eusebio's connection with Scotland, his meetings with Celtic and his close friendship with Rangers great, Willie Henderson.

HE was known as the Black Pearl and his record shows why, in an era where legendary status is bestowed so quickly and so cheaply, he is rightly regarded as one of the most brilliant talents to have graced the game.

In a 22-year playing career, the best years of which were spent with Benfica in his adopted homeland Portugal, Eusebio da Silva Ferriera scored an incredible 733 goals in 745 competitive matches. He was also the top goalscorer in the 1966 World Cup with nine goals as Portugal finished third.

In the years since his retirement he has consistently been voted among the greatest players of all time. He passed away, aged 71, following a heart attack this morning.

The forward, born in Mozambique, also had his links with Scotland having been involved in one controversial tussle with Celtic in the European Cup and been close friends with one of Rangers' greatest stars.

In the 1967/70 campaign Celtic beat Benfica 3-0 in Glasgow while the Portuguese champions won the return by the same scoreline.

The match was, in keeping with the rules at the time, decided by the toss of a coin in the referee's room afterwards. Celtic won that and went through, with the game's governing bodies immediately looking at fairer ways to decide matches and rules being changed in time for the following season.

He already had a close link with Scotland though and a favourite team, supporting the club his friend Willie Henderson played for.

The Rangers great first met Eusebio when playing for a European select side against Benfica and the pair stayed in touch, exchanging cards, presents and phone calls.

They were also reunited over a couple of whiskies in Glasgow in 2007 and Henderson told the Daily Record at the time: "The first time we spoke was in Copenhagen. It was a Rest of Europe game against Benfica to mark the centenary of Scandinavian football.

"Helmet Schoen was manager and was picking his squad the day after I played for the Scotland in a 1-0 win against England.

"Schoen was at the game and must have liked the way I played because he included me in his team to play against Eusebio.

"My last international was in 1970 in Portugal and I saw Eusebio again."

"Our language was the ball," continued Eusebio as he recalled that first encounter. "There is a connection with footballers. The ball talks for you.

"I remember some of the team. There was a Scottish defender Alex Hamilton and Jimmy Baxter. Lev Yashin was goalkeeper.

"Henderson, though, stood out. You could see this. When you play for your country and when you play for a European representative team you are a great player."

Eusebio had suffered heart problems in recent years and almost missed the 2007 date with his old friend after a scare. He also took ill while at last year's European Championships.

Today, as the tributes poured in from around the world, his old club Benfica opened their stadium to allow fans to pay their respects.

Our gallery above has some of the best images from his visits to Scotland.